Justin Upton has joined the list of players the Diamondbacks have identified as long-term keepers.

After signing a six-year, $51.25 million contract extension March 2, Upton became the third D-backs player tied up through at least 2012. Dan Haren's $44.75 million extension signed last August is good through 2012 with a team option for 2013, and Chris Young has a deal through 2013 with a team option for 2014.

The D-backs also are talking to Mark Reynolds and Miguel Montero about contract extensions this spring. Reynolds and the D-backs camp spoke March 5.

"Justin certainly is a core player," D-backs general manager Josh Byrnes said. "This contract will keep him here through 2015 and allows us to build around him and our other core players.

Jake Westbrook allowed a run and three walks in 1 2-3 innings in his first game against major-league hitters since May 2008, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Monday. Westbrook said he felt strong and was encouraged by his first outing since undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy really enjoyed Aaron Cook's spring debut Sunday, and he was very pleased with Manuel Corpas, too. Cook worked three solid innings and Corpas got four outs to help Colorado beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 in a split-squad game that was stopped with one out in the seventh inning because of rain.

Ian Kennedy has shown promise in the minor leagues. The Diamondbacks are hoping he can finally bring that success to the big league level. Kennedy got off to a positive start Sunday, throwing two scoreless innings in a 9-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The game between split squads was called because of rain after 5 1/2 innings.

Thanks to freshly minted Arizona Diamondbacks multimillionaire Justin Upton and a slew of Chicago Cubs prospects, it was an afternoon for youth at HoHoKam Park. Upton's sixth-inning grand slam, his first hit since signing a $51.25 million, six-year contract, wasn't enough for the Arizona Diamondbacks in an 8-7 loss to Chicago on Friday.

Seth Smith might have hit for the cycle had he stayed in the game for a fourth at-bat. Come on, he said afterward, it's spring training. Smith had a three-run homer along with a single and double as the Colorado Rockies routed the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-1 in the teams' spring opener on Thursday.

Sure, it's fun to write about the Braves installing netting at their spring training ballpark to protect players' cars in the right field parking lot from the bombs launched by right field prospect Jason Heyward. It's amazing to hear manager Bobby Cox say that the sound off Heyward's bat reminds him of only one other player's: the sound Hank Aaron's bat made when it made contact. Even opposing media break out superlatives, the Mets' Keith Hernandez, for example, calling a right field line drive a "Willie McCovey shot."

Whew!

Really, though, the most exciting things about Heyward are the little moves he's making. Working the count for walks. Taking second base on a ball in the dirt, something he did twice in his second spring training game, March 3 against the Mets.

Derek Lowe could only stare at his foot in disbelief. Longtime Braves manager Bobby Cox said he had never seen anything like it. Lowe was hampered Wednesday by a blister on his right foot, forcing him out of Atlanta's 7-6 victory over the New York Mets after just one inning. Lowe said the recurring blister on his push-off foot popped with Daniel Murphy at the plate, after he had faced two...

This time last year, Tommy Hanson was a confident prospect who knew it wouldn't be long until he made the major leagues. After a half-season rising through the Atlanta Braves system, Hanson made his major league debut and surprised no one, going 11-4 in 21 starts for the Braves. Now, his confidence is just as high.

Derek Lowe got off to a solid start after a rough first season in Atlanta, pitching two hitless innings in the Braves' 11-8 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday. Atlanta's new closer, Billy Wagner, did not fare so well. He gave up three hits and two runs in the third inning. Yunel Escobar went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Melky Cabrera had two hits and an RBI for...

Derek Lowe got off to a solid start after a rough first season in Atlanta, pitching two hitless innings in the Braves' 11-8 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday. The Braves new closer, Billy Wagner, did not fare so well. He gave up three hits and two runs in the third inning. Yunel Escobar went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Melky Cabrera had two hits and an RBI for the...

Tim Hudson wasn't taking his first start of the spring too seriously. Hudson allowed only two hits over two shutout innings, facing the minimum six batters in a 9-5 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday, and said he can't wait to take the mound again. "It would be an awesome thing if it were in July," Hudson said.

One day after Josh Bell announced his presence with authority by slugging two homers in his spring debut, Brian Matusz declared himself an early season favorite for Rookie of the Year honors.

While the first outing of spring is only a small sample to pull from, the left-hander's command and dominance was eye-opening.

Matusz threw 28 of 36 pitches for strikes and retired the side in the first inning with three strikeouts.

He capped the opening inning with an impressive, 13-pitch battle with Rays all-star third baseman Evan Longoria.

"It was fun," Matusz told reporters. "It was a good battle. I know my pitch count got up today, but I threw a lot of strikes ... and I was able to do what I wanted to do."

Matusz, 23, is a cerebral pitcher.

Willie Davis, a speedy center fielder who collected two World Series rings, three Gold Gloves and was a two-time All-Star during his 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has died. He was 69. "He was beloved by generations of Dodger fans and remains one of the most talented players ever to wear the Dodger uniform.

Rays right-hander Jeff Niemann breezed through his start Tuesday. The Baltimore Orioles made it easy on him. Niemann became the first Tampa Bay pitcher to complete four innings this spring, leading the Rays to an 8-3 victory against the Orioles. Niemann threw just 36 pitches while allowing one run and two hits.

Jeremy Guthrie pitched into the third inning in his second spring start, but the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 Sunday. Guthrie threw 51 pitches and gave up a run and three hits in 2 1-3 innings. He walked two and struck out two -- Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz. A year ago, the Orioles' right-hander had only one start in spring training before leaving for the World Baseball...

Miguel Tejada started getting comfortable at his new position, and the Baltimore Orioles broke in their new spring home with a bevy of long balls. Josh Bell and Rhyne Hughes each hit two home runs as the Orioles hit six homers in winning their spring opener, 12-2 Wednesday over the Tampa Bay Rays. Tejada made his first appearance at third base in his 13-season big league career.

Six years after he was traded away for the final pieces of Boston's World Series puzzle, Nomar Garciaparra finally got a friendly farewell from the Red Sox. The rookie of the year, batting champion and All-Star whose trade began a bitter back-and-forth in Boston and, for Garciaparra, an inglorious slide into irrelevance, signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday for...

Billy Hall isn't much worried about his ability to thrive at shortstop—and all around the diamond—in the "super utility" role envisioned for him in Boston.

Assimilating with new teammates after seven straight spring trainings in Arizona with the Brewers and rebounding offensively are of much more importance to him.

Playing a viable shortstop? Hopping from infield to outfield—and back again? These things are nothing new to the ultra-versatile Hall.

"Everybody that plays this game sees themselves as an everyday player. When I was the super-utility guy I was obviously doing it with open arms, but also with the intent that it could help me become an everyday player," said Hall.

Tampa Bay Rays prized left-hander David Price, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, left Wednesday's 8-6 win over the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the second inning after being hit on the right hand by the barrel of a shattered bat. According to Rays team spokesman Rick Vaughn, Price had an abrasion on his right thumb and will not need stitches.

Josh Beckett made his second start of spring training, and Red Sox pitchers kept the St. Louis Cardinals hitless into the seventh inning. But it was Boston's young hitters who pulled out the win on Monday. Che-Shuan Lin's one-out single in the ninth scored Josh Reddick after Reddick doubled in the tying run, and the Red Sox beat the Cardinals 7-6.

Joe Nelson won the last game ever played at Shea Stadium. He received a World Series ring for pitching just three games with the Boston Red Sox. The reliever's other career milestones are less joyous -- four serious surgeries, seven major league organizations and too many grueling days of rehabilitation for him to count.

Jeremy Guthrie pitched into the third inning in his second spring start, but the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 Sunday. Guthrie threw 51 pitches and gave up a run and three hits in 2 1-3 innings. He walked two and struck out two -- Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz. A year ago, the Orioles' right-hander had only one start in spring training before leaving for the World Baseball...